Newport Academy - Orange, CA

I'm and finally getting to writing this review a few years after our daughter attended Newport Academy in Newport Ca.Bottom Line Up Front: Newport Academy saved our daughters life.After months of going from one psychiatrist to another, one mental facility to another and too many visits to the emergency room my wife found Newport Academy and Dr. Barbara in a desperate Internet search. Lucky for us, we were able to find the money required for the deposit, we were able to get our daughter in within a few days.Colorado is one of the worst states in the USA for mental health as we regrettably found out. Our 16 year old daughter was prescribed Proxac, Zoloft, Risperdal, Abilify and a few other SSRI drugs by the brilliant doctors in Colorado that had serious side effects including depression, suicidal thoughts, cutting and violent behavior. These drugs have not been tested for young children and apparently were the cause of many of her issuesOur daughter spent 120 days at Newport. While she did not like it, they got her off all the psychotic drugs and she is now doing great. She graduated high school this May and is going to college.We found the staff at Newport Academy to be great. They were attentive, frequently communicated with us and kept out daughter safe. We visited from Colorado every other week and attended group and family sessions as well as the local Al-Anon meetings. Dr. Barbara Nosal, with a doctorate degree in transpersonal psychology, was a godsend - she is an experienced professional that takes a no-non sense approach to helping teens. Anna, Aja, Jordan, Donata, Amy, Kelsey and many others were fantastic and will be remembered for ever.We have recommended Newport Academy to other families and they have had similar, successful results. While it appears from their web page that they are focused on drug or alcohol related issues, they do way more than that as our daughter did not have these issues and she was helped.

As a two time ex-resident I have nothing but the utmost respect, gratitude and love for Newport Academy. I first went through their program in April 2010, and again in December of that year. The first time through I was not ready for what had been offered to me but have been clean and sober since arriving my second time. There program is unique, creative and binding. The alumni, kids who went through the program before and after me, are my best friends.For any parent thinking about trusting Newport with their child, I can not express to you enough to do it. I will share one very personal story from the day I came out of my drug-enduced blackout my second time in treatment. I had severe depression at the time and the thought of living a life without drugs was unbearable to me and I decided to try and kill myself in that moment. As I was crying and bleeding the men who worked at Newport Academy rushed in and held me while I cried. He calmed me down and for the first time in years I cam to trust another man and began to recover from the lifestyle I had been living for so many years.I graduated high school through their program. I rebuilt the relationship with my parents through that program. I am in college today. I have a job and help others all because of learning to know myself better through that program. I personally know dozens of other children who have since become adults through the years since getting sober, most will probably not post on here but they exist. Any parent who would like to know more is welcome to email me at [email protected] and I will be happy to talk openly and honestly with you.The last thing I would like to tell you and I hope it gives you some hope, today I am a truly happy person.

Honestly, I am very disappointed to see that Newport academy has a five star rating. If you want the TRUTH please read (I will try to not be bias).I am a female, & went through this program at 17 years old. I completed this program june of 2014. it truly makes my heart hurt when I think about this place. I, along with a couple other residents, kept in touch with over the past year, and are still traumatized by this place. First off, They make you go to meetings every night with addicts (NA, AA, and CA, so on) Not saying that addicts are bad, but the majority percentage of people filled in the rooms of AA, are 75% OLDER men. be sure to know that when you sign up for this program, you will be sending your 12-17 yr old sons/daughters to AA meetings with strangers every night (whether they are considered to have a drug problem or not) Yes, there are pedophiles in AA programs. please do the research. THIS is probably one of the most important things to note. Secondly, yes, the food and living accommodation are nice. Be sure to have lots of money or a great insurance plan to cover this overly EXPENSIVE rehab facility. Not worth the money I should note. Food, yes, it is nice but the females are limited to how much food they are to eat. for an example, I would really want seconds or a snack. The staff would not let me eat anymore/ less than the other residents. My friends and I just wanted an extra snack/second and we would be penalized for eating more. If we didn't like the food served, they would make us drink 'fat gaining' shakes so we would get our calorie count. The staff continued to be little me and my accomplishments. The therapist seemed to degrade me and point out all my flaws. I get therapists are supposed to do that, but to what extent? girls would be crying and filled with anxiety because maybe a meeting with a therapist or group didn't go well and they wouldn't get to level up. Let me note that there is a level system. I was very upset when I found out I wasn't able to call my parents for three days and once I 'level up' I can have my makeup and be able to talk to my parents for 5 minutes EVERY OTHER day. it was very upsetting for the other girls along with myself. It wasn't until a month later, I was able to call my grandparents. We would cry every night BEGGING to have more phone time with our loved ones. it makes me so sad thinking about it. There were countless activities ran by other 'Addicts and Drug counselors' (have you caught along that most of this program is designed for kids with drug issues?) It is VERY FUNNY that many people quit and got fired right after I left the program for unnamed reasons. hmmm. Patt Ochoa (counselor)-fired along with Candice (family counselor) Heather (counselor)tand renee (counselor) all quit their jobs. Another fact to know is that the staff members are actually kids who graduated the program. They all of a sudden change because they are 'sober.' Blind leading the blind if you ask me. PLEASE READ: As I was getting college acceptances from Top universities all over the country. the staff continued to be little my accomplishments and TOLD me to NOT GO to college because there would be too many drugs and alcohol. hmmm okay, no, I thought to myself. Once I graduated I did not want to see or have anything to do with this program. I chose a university and am currently a Biological Science Major and carry a 3.7 GPA . I inspire to become a pediatric dentist and am interning at a family dentistry. I am also in a sorority and continue to have fun in college, but the smart and RIGHT WAY. I am not trying to boast about my accomplishments. I just want to let everyone know who reads that although the staff were degrading me and told me to not do things because they knew themselves couldn't do, I carried on with my gut instinct and knew that my future didn't involve any advice Newport academy had to offer me & going to AA meetings the rest of my life at 17 yrs old. They continued to tell me to my face that I Was indeed an addict and couldn't 'level up' until I admitted I was one. I believed for such a long time that I was an 'addict' and couldn't control myself. when grown adults tell you that constantly every day for three months, you start to believe them. It was awful lying and saying that I was an addict when in my heart I knew I wasn't. I came in to NPA to help with traumatic situations that have occurred when I was younger, they certainly did not help anything, in the long run it made things much more difficult. Im glad I am out of there and starting my new life! I COULDNT BE HAPPIER for the decisions I have made so far. Yes, Newport Academy was an AWFUL place, but I learned to be patient and move on. there will be traumatic situations you have to face, Newport academy was one, and I HOPE and PRAY that you will NOT send you precious teen here. I am just trying to help anyone I can. I would write more but i have reached the limit!! Please

The woman I initially talked to on the phone told me Newport Academy was more than a treatment center, but a 'Life Academy'. I had lost all faith and did not believe true recovery was possible, but after my daughter completed the program, I understood what she meant. Newport Academy altered the course of my child's life. She was destined to be a high school drop and yet with the help of Newport, graduated from a prestigious college. My daughter, who I didn't think would be alive to see her 18th birthday, now spends her days inspiring others. There are no words to capture the gratitude I feel for not only giving me my daughter back but putting her on the path to a better life.The previous comment from another parent is distressing at best. The child she describes could have potentially been sent away from the family but instead had the benefit of family therapy and it too probably altered the course of that child's life through the love and inclusion that happens at Newport Academy. To publicize another child's disorder in an effort to make disparaging comments is distressing at best and says more about the writer than Newport Academy.You don't have to trust me, but don't trust the negative people out there. Pick up the phone and talk to someone at Newport, you too will see what I am talking about and feel the love.

Our lives changed forever on January 4, and I really couldn't believe that anything could make it right again. Though a friend, and quite by accident, I learned of Newport Academy and was put in touch with their admissions coordinator, Lynne Bulter. She was warm, compassionate and a true advocate for my son. From the moment he walked in the door to their beautiful facility, he was determined to leave and made that known. For three weeks he dug in his heels, and for three weeks the staff assured us that, in time, he would come around and 'do the work.' I trusted them and took their advice and prayed. One Tuesday night a got a call letting me know that my son had begun to do his work. I cannot tell you how that felt.Newport Academy treats adolescents battling depression, suicidal ideation, addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders and self-harm in an incredibly warm, loving environment. Boys and girls are housed at different facilities, six to a house. The program is based on love and compassion, along with individual, group and family therapy. Families come on alternating Saturday's for family day, and have opportunities for family therapy during the week. There is also equine therapy, mixed martial arts, yoga and art. The days are structured and disciplined, and the terms 'level up' as they complete the work assigned to them. School is also part of their day.My son came home on Friday with hope,newly learned coping skills, and a smile on his face. I kow how greatful I am for Newport, but today he told me how grateful he is. We have work to do, and staying on top of this will be a life-lomg journey for him. The difference is that now we are not afraid, we are empowered.The love I have for each and every member of the Newport Academcy staff is too great to express. Their knowledge, compassion and love for my son has made all the difference.